Richea × curtisiae

Richea × curtisiae
Richea × curtisiae at Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Richea
Species:
R. × curtisiae
Binomial name
Richea × curtisiae
A.M.Gray

Richea × curtisiae, commonly known as Curtis's candle heath, is a hybrid species of plant endemic to Tasmania. It belongs to the genus Richea, which forms part of the Ericaceae (formerly Epacridaceae) family, commonly known as the heath family.

Richea × curtisiae is a hybrid species between Richea scoparia and Richea pandanifolia.[1]

Description

Richea × curtisiae has the form of an intermediate between the smaller shrub Richea scoparia and the larger erect shrub/tree Richea pandanifolia. As such, Richea × curtisiae forms a small shrub of between 30 and 150 cm (12 and 59 in) tall with an erect habit.[2] Richea × curtisiae has few branches, with persistent leaves. These leaves are tapering and strap-like, which vary in length from 10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 in).[3] The leaf margins are cartilaginous and are finely serrated and cutting, and the branch tips contains a dense rosette of leaves. As the leaves age they become brown, and the leaves on the lower two-thirds of the stem are dead and decaying.

The inflorescence of Richea × curtisiae occurs as a terminal panicle, a branched inflorescence, which are between 10 and 20 cm (4 and 8 in) long.[2] The peduncles, the stalks of the flowers, are 5 to 10 in number, and are short, between 2 and 4 mm (1⁄16 and 3⁄16 in).[2] The flowers are pink to orange in colour.

Richea × custisiae has an appearance similar to that of Richea alpina, but it is shorter, unbranched, and broadly spreading, and is restricted to alpine areas in the deep south-west.[1]

Habitat and distribution

Richea × custisiae is endemic to Tasmania and is relatively common in occurrence where both Richea scoparia and Richea pandanifolia occur, with heightened occurrence after a disturbance, like that of fire or clearing.[1]

Richea × curtisiae occurs in alpine areas of the West and Central mountains of Tasmania. It can be found in sub-alpine woodlands, and sub-alpine heath communities. Richea × curtisiae also often occurs with Dracophyllum milliganii.[4]

Taxonomy

Richea × curtisiae was first recognised in 1971 by Alan Maurice Gray,[2] and was named after Winifred Curtis, a matriarch in Tasmanian botany.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Jordan, Greg. "Richea Xcurtisiae (Ericaceae) not in the Students Flora". Key to Tasmanian Vascular Plants. University of Tasmania. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  2. ^ a b c d Gray, A. M. (1971). "A new species of Mountain Heath from Tasmania" (PDF). Muelleria. 2 (2): 143–144. doi:10.5962/p.171871. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  3. ^ "Species Information: Richea curtisiae". Richea curtisiae. University of Tasmania. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  4. ^ "Communities". Understory Network. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  5. ^ "Honours - Dr Winifred Mary Curtis - University of Tasmania Library". UTAS. Retrieved 2024-02-22.